Died
26th May 1937
Sources
Ancestry
Barrow News
1939 Register
Place
Walks
Themes
Lancelot Ruskin Bennett
This first attracted me because of the unusual names. Not the commonest choices for someone born in Furness, though there are Hannibals, Samsons, and even a Boadicea in Barrow Cemetery. However, Ancestry turned up Lancelot Bennetts in the Nottinghamshire Yeomanry; Cheshire Regiment, Royal Field Artillery, Oxfordshire & Bucks Light Infantry, York and Lancaster Regiment, who all served in WW1.
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
LANCELOT RUSKIN
THE BELOVED HUSBAND OF NORA BENNETT
WHO DIED MAY 26TH 1937
AGED 40 YEARS.
Lancelot Ruskin Bennett’s birth was registered as 8 February 1895, so he was actually 42 when he died.
1901 Census
In the 1901 Census Lancelot Bennett is living with his parents at 17 St George’s Terrace, Millom. John Thomas Bennett (28) Hairdresser, born Millom, Cumberland has a wife, Elizabeth Ann Bennett (31) born Isle of Man; Lancelot is the only child at this point, and they have a lodger, William Abbott (21) Hairdresser’s Assistant, born Richmond, Yorkshire.
1911 Census
By the time of the 1911 Census the family make-up was very different. Living at 8 St George’s Road, Millom, are John Thomas Bennett (38) Married, Hairdresser (Employer), born Millom, Cumberland, who is now married to Alice Bennett (40) born Appleby, Westmorland. The rest of the household is Lancelot Ruskin Bennett (16) Hairdresser, born Millom, Cumberland; Ivy Bennett (2) born Millom, Cumberland; Robert Bowness (18) Stepson, Hairdresser, born US of America (but subject by parentage); John George Bowness (16) stepson, no occupation, born Frizington, Cumberland; and Alice Isabel Bowness (12) stepdaughter, At school, born Frizington, Cumberland.
On May 23rd 1916 Lancelot Ruskin Bennett was initiated into the Whitwell, Millom, Lodge of the United Grand Lodge of England Freemasons.
According to a family tree on Ancestry, he joined the Royal Flying Corps on 1 March 1918, and was posted to Brockworth, Gloucestershire, later that year, in the Stores. He was demobilised on 25 March 1919.
Lancelot R. Bennett married Nora Gray in the Wigton Registration District in Q4 1927. They had a son, John Ruskin Benett, registered in Wigton Q4 1930.
From the Barrow News 5 June 1937 (which also provided the photograph):
THE LATE MR. L. BENNETT
SUDDEN DEATH AT DALTON
News of the sudden beath of Mr. Lancelot Ruskin Bennett, of Beech Hill, Dalton, on Wednesday came as a shock to the town, for he had seemed quite well, apart from minor complaints, and the news of his death was most unexpected.
Only son of Mr. J. T. Bennett, of Millom, he was born in Millom 40 years ago and entered his father’s hairdressing business there. He joined the Air Force at a youthful age, and served a number of years, later returning to hairdressing, opening a successful establishment in Dalton about 1926.
Of a genial disposition, he had made a wide circle of friends in the town. He leaves a widow and one son.
The funeral was reported in the following edition:
THE LATE MR. L. BENNETT
LARGELY ATTENDED INTERMENT AT DALTON
The funeral of the late Mr. Lancelot R. Bennett, of 109, Market-street, Dalton, took place at the Dalton Cemetery on Friday week, a large number of mourners attending the service, performed by the Rev. Geo. Henderson, curate.
The family and family friends present were Mrs. Bennett, widow; Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Bennett (Millom), father and mother; Mrs. Gray (Aspatria), mother-in-law; Mr. and Mrs. Perrow (Pilling), brother-in-law and sister; Mr. J. G. Bowness (Millom); Mr. and Mrs. W. Bennett (Millom), uncle and aunt; Mr. J. W. Gray, Mr. W. Gray, Mr. Husbands (all of Aspatria), brothers-in-law; Mr. and Mrs. Bell (Crosscanonby), brother-in-law and sister-in-law; Mr. and Mrs. G. Aitchison, Mr. and Mrs. G. Crellin, Mr. and Mrs, J. Crellin, Mr. and Mrs. R. Robinson, Mr. and Mrs. W. Pickthall, Mr. D. Thomas, cousins; Mrs. Hodgson (Millom), Miss Miller (Aspatria), Mr. A. Watson (Millom), Mr. W. Graham (Millom), Mr. and Mrs. Hewitson (Millom), Mrs. Pickthall (Millom), Mrs. Rowe, Mrs. R. Chappels (Millom) and others.
The bearers were Messrs. J. Aitchison, J. Crompton, G. Crellin, and D. Thomas. Many beautiful floral tributes were laid on the grave.
1939 Register
Following Lancelot’s death Nora went back to her mother. In the 1939 Register living at 13 King Street, Wigton are Mary J. Gray (DoB 25 June 1867), Rachel Miller (DoB 21 September 1861), and Nora Bennett (DoB 9 July 1901). The next record is redacted, but is probably John Ruskin Bennett, Lancelot and Nora’s son.
